THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609080048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 72 lines
A man who allegedly picked up a hitchhiker in Norfolk, drove him to the Bowers Hill section of Chesapeake and tried to force him to have sex is being sought by police.
The hitchhiker got away after fighting free of his attacker, police said.
Investigators would not say Saturday if they believe the suspect is linked to a dozen unsolved slayings of men in Hampton Roads, many of whom were also believed to have been picked up in Norfolk, killed and then their nude bodies dumped in rural areas - several in Bowers Hill.
While there are similarities between those cases and Friday night's incident, there also appeared to be critical differences.
Police spokesman Richard Black said the hitchhiker, who was black, was picked up in the Berkley section of Norfolk about 8 p.m. Friday. He was taken to the Bowers Hill area where the alleged sexual assault occurred.
Black said the man, who was questioned Friday night and again Saturday, told investigators that the suspect drove to a secluded dirt road near U.S. Route 58 - Military Highway South - and parked.
When the driver initiated sexual advances, a fight broke out.
``The victim fought off the attacker'' and fled, Black said Saturday. The suspect was last seen driving off on Route 58.
The man ran to the highway where he flagged down a passing Virginia state trooper.
The man ``has answered very few questions,'' Black said. ``He is very scared.'' But investigators have no reason to disbelieve his account, Black said.
It was unclear where the man was coming from or going because police are releasing no information about him.
The suspect is described as white, between 33 and 37 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 185 pounds with a medium complexion.
He also has two tattoos. One, a dagger with a snake around the blade, is on his right forearm; the other, an eagle, is on the upper left side of his chest.
The man was wearing a red shirt with three buttons and no collar, cutoff blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
Since 1987, a serial killer is believed to have taken the lives of a dozen transient and homosexual men. In the latest incident, the nude body of Andrew ``Andre'' D. Smith, 38, of Portsmouth was found July 22 on the shoulder of Yadkin Road near Interstate 64 and George Washington Highway in the Deep Creek section of Chesapeake. .
Nearly all the serial killer's victims were last seen in one of three areas: Norfolk's Ocean View section, downtown Norfolk or Portsmouth's Truxtun section. Many frequented late-night hangouts, and several had stayed at Norfolk's Union Mission.
The victim in the July 22 case was picked up in Berkley. It was unclear where he had been before he was picked up.
Some of the serial killer's victims were gay or had ties to the gay community. They also kept late hours and had unpredictable schedules. Those lifestyles are what linked the cases in the first place.
Nearly all the victims were found in Chesapeake. Only one victim, the first, was found clothed. Police have not located clothes or property belonging to the other 11 victims.
Most were dumped within a few miles of where the man in Friday's incident fought off his alleged attacker.
In mid-1993, investigators from several jurisdictions began comparing cases and determined that the deaths of seven men were probably linked to a common killer. By the end of 1994, police formed the Serial Killer Task Force.
Anyone with information about Friday's incident or who can identify the man in the composite drawing is asked to call investigators at 547-6161 or Crime Line at 487-1234. Calls also can be made to the Serial Killer Tip Hot Line at 436-8900, or write detectives at P.O. Box 16291, Chesapeake, Va. 23328. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
Police seeking man shown in this police sketch.
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT SEX CRIME by CNB